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Tobacco Industry News
Reports
Electronic cigarettes: 'Important new niche category'
According to a prominent tobacco industry analyst, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), battery powered devices that heat a liquid nicotine solution and create a vapor that is inhaled, have shifted from a “fad” to “here to stay.” Wells Fargo Securities analyst Bonnie Herzog predicts that the top tobacco companies will all begin to create e-cigarette products since they are “profitable, growing quickly, and gaining shelf space and consumer acceptance.” Financial and regulatory debates have been going on for four years with some anti-smoking groups arguing for similar taxing and regulation as cigarettes and others claiming e-cigarettes to be a reduced-risk alternative to cigarettes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found that some e-cigarettes contain some known cancer-causing chemicals, and plans to regulate e-cigarettes and related products “in a manner consistent with its mission of protecting public health.” Click here to read more.
Philip Morris USA raises cigarette prices
The tobacco company Philip Morris has increased its cigarette list price by 6 cents across all of its brands effective June 18. The decision to make a 2-3 percent increase in the price was predicted due to decreasing numbers in cigarette consumption. Other big tobacco companies such as The Altria Group, R.J. Reynolds, and Lorillard Inc. are expected to increase their prices as well. Click here to read more about this story.
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International
Smokescreen lifted on tobacco industry tactics
A new report reveals tactics used by tobacco companies to prevent the strengthening of European legislation, such as tobacco labeling and removing the terms “light” and “mild” from tobacco product marketing. The Smoke Free Partnership (SFP) commissioned this report that reviewed previously secret corporate documents, released after legal action in the U.S. against tobacco companies, in order to understand tactics used during the development of the European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) in 1999. One key tactic was the direct lobbying of politicians and civil servants who had influence over new legislation, and the indirect lobbying through tobacco farmers, suppliers, and distributors. This report gives insight into how tobacco companies handled tobacco related legislation. To read more, click here.
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